Been lurking on this forum for a while and was wondering if you kind lot would be able to help me identify a pair of Fischer E99 skis I recently acquired? See the attached picture at the bottom. My guess would be 80-90s, but I haven't seen a pair like this anywhere. Some of the ones posted on here look similar though. They're 200cm and equipped with matching Rottefella BC Auto bindings. Got the skis and a pair of Colltex long skins for about us$90, half for the skis and skins and half for shipping, packaging and the headache it entailed.
"You don't just buy one pair of skis", I read and scoffed. Couldn't be me, I thought. Me, that has a backlog of project cars (oh look, that car is cheap and looks like a quick fix! Let’s go pick up another lawn ornament).
Yet it appears to be true. Before the first set of skis even appeared on my doorstep, I had already finalized the acquisition of the second pair. A pair of Fischer 206cm Trace 82's with the Offtrack Crown and Easy Skin compatibility. Got them cheap through my work and even mounted a pair of Rottefella Magnum BC bindings on them myself. Mine are actually Fischer branded bindings, the only difference being two stickers and a higher price tag.
Early this year me and a friend embarked on a ski trip with narrow cross-country skis that we waxed. Or that we tried to wax, as clueless as we were. Did the whole length of the skis with hot melt wax. It was slipperier than snot on a door knob. Couldn’t get up a hill, couldn’t get down a hill. Combine that with a way too heavy backpack and trying to go off-track to get a prime exercise in mental toughness training. Would do it again though.
Took the new skis out for the first time on a little too little snow. It worked, but they definitely need more. Second time around, I tried going up a mountain, following a narrow ATV-road with trees and shrubbery on either side. Worked wonders going uphill with the offtrack crown and easy skins. But downhill? After a couple meters and landings on my behind I ended up taking them off and walking back down. Boots used are Crispi Stetind. A no-brainer for me, as I use their hiking boots extensively.
The day after I tried my luck on an old forest road. It was long and winding, with rolling up- and downhills. T’was a dream with the waxless Traces, following a snowmobile trail. Did about 4.5 kilometers and it was so effortless. On the way back I noticed that I should’ve invested in skate skis instead, considering my ski tracks were more perpendicular than parallel. Sadly it’ll get warmer here now, so it’ll be a while before I can get back to working on my technique and satisfying my need for exertion and adventure.
For the record, I am 184cm(6ft) and 80kg(176lbs). Initially I thought the skis would be too long for me, but 206cm is the perfect length and I don’t think I could have them any shorter. Thanks to lilcliffy and others on this forum that made me rationalize my purchase. After I tried the skis I don’t regret it whatsoever.
Thanks for reading my blogpost and maybe having a chuckle at my inexperience and fascination for this wonderful pastime and community.
- Max
